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Morning opening: New Russia sanctions on maintain
Jakub Krupa
The European Union is more and more unlikely to succeed in an settlement on the brand new, twentieth bundle of sanctions towards Russia forward of tomorrow’s fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as Hungary continues to dam the bundle.

EU overseas coverage chief Kaja Kallas admitted this morning that “there’s not going to be progress” on this situation as we speak, as Budapest continues to dam the adoption of the sanctions.
“We’re doing our utmost to have the sanctions bundle … by means of … and we’re on the lookout for methods how we will do it. However as we’ve got heard some very robust statements from Hungary, … I don’t actually … see they’re going to change this sadly as we speak,” she stated.
Hungary opposes the proposed measures – in addition to the fee of the €90bn mortgage for Ukraine – as a part of its escalating dispute with Ukraine about oil transit utilizing the Druzhba pipeline.
Hungarian overseas minister Péter Szijjártó stated on Sunday that “till Ukraine resumes oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline, we is not going to permit choices necessary to Kyiv to maneuver ahead.”
It additionally comes simply six weeks earlier than the important thing parliamentary election within the nation, which might see its pro-Russian prime minister Viktor Orbán ousted after 16 years in energy.
The embattled chief – at the moment trailing 10 factors behind the opposition chief, Tisza’s Péter Magyar – more and more turns to anti-Ukrainian rhetoric to falsely allege a conspiracy between Kyiv and Brussels to take away him from workplace and speak in regards to the threat of battle increasing to Hungary.
The failure to agree on the brand new bundle of sanctions can be politically embarrasing for the bloc as its leaders, together with the fee president Ursula von der Leyen, plan to journey to Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the anniversary.
I’ll carry you all the important thing strains from Brussels right here, in addition to different tales from throughout Europe, as we anticipate Rob Jetten to be sworn in as the brand new Dutch prime minister, Finland’s Alexander Stubb to satisfy France’s Emmanuel Macron in Paris, and hear from the European Parliament on the way forward for the EU-US commerce deal.
It’s Monday, 23 February 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Stay.
Good morning.
Key occasions
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‘Battle of future will probably be battle of autonomous and semiautonomous robotic methods,’ Zaluznhyi warns
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Fashionable warfare has dramatically modified methods by which wars are fought, Zaluzhnyi says
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Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief, UK ambassador Zaluzhnyi about to talk in London
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EU’s message on US commerce is ‘deal is a deal,’ spokesperson says
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EU fascinated about ‘returning to stability and predictability’ in commerce with US
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EU wants readability on US commerce after supreme court docket ruling
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Hungary’s block of €90bn mortgage for Ukraine would breach precept of loyal cooperation, EU says
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Merz says he expects Trump to respect EU-US deal struck final yr
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European parliament set to pause implementation of EU-US commerce deal amid uncertainties over tariffs
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Russia’s Putin ‘not successful battle’ in Ukraine, Finland’s Stubb says
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‘Can’t be in any other case,’ Macron says as he hopes to see EU mortgage for Ukraine, Russian sanctions agreed
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Finland’s Stubb anticipated at Élysée for talks with Macron quickly
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Confusion reigns on US tariffs after final week’s supreme court docket ruling
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Ukraine ‘hates Hungary’ and pursues ‘very hostile’ insurance policies, Hungarian overseas minister says as he lashes towards Kyiv, Brussels
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Rob Jetten turns into youngest-ever Dutch prime minister at helm of minority authorities
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twentieth bundle of sanctions solely matter of time, French minister insists
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‘We can’t proceed like this,’ Lithuania’s Budrys expresses frustration with Hungary
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Failure to undertake sanctions would make Russia ‘pleased,’ Estonian overseas minister says
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Hungarian authorities seeks to create, exploit anti-Ukrainian hostility in election marketing campaign, Poland’s Sikorski says
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Morning opening: New Russia sanctions on maintain
Zaluznhyi additionally warns about “the backdrop of the … destabilisation of the our bodies balancing the outdated world order,” which he says – through interpreter – that’s “exacerbated by the US coverage of non-compliance with the worldwide authorized framework, which might result in the final word destruction of the present worldwide system.”
He says that disagreements among the many allies assist Russia “exploit this example.”
He says resolving the battle will want “a fragile and balanced diplomatic effort which has no parallel in world historical past,” as “the outdated guidelines not work, however folks nonetheless have excessive hopes for them, and the brand new ones haven’t even been formulated but.”
He particularly cautions towards any short-term fixes, however stresses the necessity to construct stronger sensible alliances.
In a stark warning, he says that Russia “will stay a supply of hazard for an indefinite interval” and Europe will want “technological alliances” to construct their response.
He says the Russian aggression can’t be fought in conventional methods, however by “altering the very nature of the battle,” making the aggression “extra expensive for Russia … resulting in the inevitable defeat.”
He additionally says the reconstruction of Ukraine “ought to start now,” with out ready for a peace deal “which can by no means occur,” calling for “a brand new format of peacekeepers … who don’t combat, however rebuild,” together with the power infrastructure, which he says might decide the result of the battle.
‘Battle of future will probably be battle of autonomous and semiautonomous robotic methods,’ Zaluznhyi warns
Zaluznhyi says:
“Whether or not we agree or not, the battle of the longer term will probably be a battle of autonomous and semi-autonomous robotic methods.”
He says the Russian aggression on Ukraine is a “transitional” battle, which already makes use of new applied sciences which proceed to “develop quickly,” however which stay “inadequate” to utterly take away the human ingredient.
“Conventional weapons and constructions are nonetheless getting used, however are steadily being phased out or remodeled,” he says.
He says that’s the reason Russia is stepping up its assaults on infrastructure, power, transport methods because it recognised that the technique of preventing wars strikes away from merely capturing territory, and focuses on “depleting the enemy’s assets and capabilities” insteaad.
Zaluznhyi says the rise of unmanned or uncrewed methods, supported by AI, is additional altering the frontline scenario.
He discusses this utilizing an instance of a swarm of unmanned drones flying in formation, managed by people however additional supported by AI.
Zaluznhyi additionally says that nuclear weapons should not as a lot of a gamechanger as folks make them to be, and are as a substitute like “a fig lead of Atlas’s physique, disguising the true capabilities of the one who possesses it.”
He additionally says that ballistic missiles stay “the most costly ones in a battle of attrition,” and whereas they’re very costly to provide, they require “much more costly” defence methods.
He additionally discusses the restricted use of air pressure within the battle, as Russia’s theoretical big benefit over Ukraine on this space proves to be of restricted use as its planes hardly ever enterprise deep into Ukrainian territory for worry of being shot down, with their position dramatically altering in consequence.
Zaluznhyi additionally says that any nation preventing a battle must be placed on “a battle footing,” which he says stays “the best problem for Ukraine.”
He says Russia has efficiently executed that, and “we expertise the results of this transfer day-after-day and each evening,” as “it’s virtually not possible to cease such a navy steamroller.”
However he says conventional defence industrial fashions with centralised factories and lengthy provide chains “are not match fore objective,” as they create “loads of criticial vulnerabilities,” however are additionally insufficiently versatile.
He says that in Ukraine’s case, it’s power sector has been uncovered as significantly susceptible.
“Defending power amenities turns into as necessary as defending territory,” he says.
Zaluznhyi says that “the extremely costly precision weapons that had been an actual gamechanger within the twentieth century have been changed by weapons of attrition,” that are low-cost, mass produced, and deplete at a excessive charge.
He says that adjustments the calculation of what’s wanted and “calls into query the power of even useful resource wealthy nations to wage lengthy wars towards smaller ones.”
He says financial resilience and power provides additionally play a key position so nations can “keep navy potential over time within the face of fixed tensions, complicated logistics, and accelerated technological change.”
Fashionable warfare has dramatically modified methods by which wars are fought, Zaluzhnyi says
Zaluzhnyi says that fashionable warfare – and future warfare – has dramatically challenged earlier concepts of what preventing a battle was like.
He says it integrates unmanned and robotic methods, distributed sensor networks, and all kinds of electromagnetic options, additional fuelled by synthetic intelligence.
He says that “a robotic kill zone” extends at the least 25 kilometers deep from the frontline, with deeper strikes affecting logistics.
He says that the fashionable warfare has additionally modified the way in which armies mobilise troops and handle them, with decrease numbers required, as focus shifts to know-how – or “continous means of making certain and sustaining technological superiority over the enemy” – as a substitute.
“Technological evolution in the direction of the robotisation of warfare has provided another that permits for the preservation of fight effectiveness whereas radically decreasing human involvement and in consequence, human losses,” he says.
Zaluzhnyi opens up the speech by explaining that he needed his phrases attain not simply coverage specialists, but in addition folks in bomb shelters again in Ukraine, as he desires to supply his perception into the battle thus far.
However (talking in English, thus far) he says he’ll say nothing to offer journalists a sensational headline.
He says he’ll deal with talking in regards to the battle, the way it has advanced and altered over time, and whether or not we’re able to face this new actuality.
He then switches to Ukrainian.
Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief, UK ambassador Zaluzhnyi about to talk in London
We will probably be now shifting our focus from Brussels to London, as Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the previous the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and present Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, is about to talk at Chatham Home.
In a uncommon public look only a day earlier than the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, he’s anticipated to supply his ideas on the state of the battle and what’s subsequent for Ukraine.
It’s additionally good alternative to remind you about this good lengthy learn by Shaun Walker on the construct as much as the invasion in 2022, which additionally contains some strains on Zaluzhnyi, who some consider could have some political aspirations too…
EU’s message on US commerce is ‘deal is a deal,’ spokesperson says
EU’s message on EU-US commerce boils right down to “a deal is a deal,” Gill says.
“Crucial factor in there, I might say, is 5 phrases: ‘a deal is a deal’. Either side have agreed to and certainly have an obligation to honour their a part of the settlement we made with the US.
So now we’re merely saying to the US, it’s as much as you to obviously present to us what path you take to honour the settlement.”
EU fascinated about ‘returning to stability and predictability’ in commerce with US
Gill provides:
“We’re speaking to all related interlocutors right here within the EU and with our world companions.
When we’ve got a transparent image on exactly what the implications of the Supreme Courtroom ruling are for the US, what steps they intend to take, what measures they intend to place in place, arising from that ruling, then we can have the readability we have to make a correct evaluation and take additional choices.
However to be clear, at this time limit, we wouldn’t have that, and it’s less than us to supply it.”
He then says:
“We’re fascinated about is returning to a scenario of stability and predictability as shortly as potential.
Now we have a framework for doing that, which is the EU-US joint assertion, and we look ahead to our American counterparts explaining to us exactly what is going on in order that we will return to a scenario the place firms within the EU and within the US can proceed doing what they do greatest commerce, make investments, create jobs, create prosperity on either side of the Atlantic.”